Soldiers are taking these nano drones on patrol in combat zones.

A 3rd BCT paratrooper prepares to launch a Black Hornet in Kandahar, August 9, 2019.
US Army photo by Maj. Thomas Cieslak

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Kandahar province in Afghanistan in July from Fort Bragg in North Carolina to replace the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Stars and Stripes reports.

Army paratroopers have been "routinely" using the Black Hornets, recon drones that look like tiny helicopters, for foot patrols, the Army said in a statement.

"The Black Hornet provided overhead surveillance for the patrol as it gauged security in the region and spoke to local Afghans about their concern," a caption accompanying a handful of photos from a recent patrol in Kandahar explained.

These drones, which are able to transmit high-quality images and video, can also be launched in a matter of seconds and can quietly provide covert coverage of the battlefield for around half an hour, Business Insider saw firsthand at an exclusive FLIR technology demonstration.

The Black Hornets "will give our soldiers operating at the squad level immediate situational awareness of the battlefield through its ability to gather intelligence, provide surveillance, and conduct reconnaissance," Lt. Col. Isaac Taylor, an Army public affairs officer, previously told Business Insider.

"This kind of technology will be a life-saver for us because it takes us out of harm's way while enhancing our ability to execute whatever combat mission we're on," Sgt. Ryan Subers, one of the operators, said in a statement.

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